Peace, Perfection, Plans, and Puzzles

I hate puzzles. I hate the little pieces that look exactly like each other. I hate the long hours of time wasted by putting them together. And I especially hate the mess it makes. As someone who deeply desires peace, perfection, and well laid out plans, the chaos and disorder it represents to me are not welcome. I realized something the other day while I was babysitting, though. I love putting together little kiddie puzzles. You know, the kind with 48 pieces or less. Even when the kids are bored of it, I want to keep putting it together. I get satisfaction from seeing the puzzle come together under my care. I like the kiddie puzzles because it doesn’t take much time or effort before the puzzle is completed. I don’t have to spend hours and hours, or in my case weeks and weeks, figuring out the “big picture” like I would have to in a normal-people-sized puzzle. I don’t feel frustrated, discouraged, or like I’ll never get to the final product. And that’s how I view life too. I want my life to be like a perfectly laid out kiddie puzzle. I want a life where I am in control and I find out the end result quickly and without a mess. But I’ve come to realize that life is sometimes like a large, overwhelming puzzle. It isn’t always easy, it can get confusing and frustrating at times, and I’m definitely not in control.

God is in control, though. Although He doesn’t promise me perfection and well laid out plans all the time, He does offer me peace. In the midst of the chaos, He grants me peace. And even though it would be nice to know how the finished product will look, I can be content knowing that God knows what it looks like, and that is enough. When life becomes like a large, scrambled puzzle, I am learning to bring it to God, and take it one puzzle piece at a time.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4: 6-7 [ESV]